2011 BCS Championship Game: Oregon Ducks Defense Could Be Difference vs. Auburn

The No. 2 Oregon Ducks battle the No. 1 Auburn Tigers in one of the most anticipated BCS championship games in recent memory.

The latest college football odds as posted by BetDSI have the Tigers listed as slim 2.5-point favorites in what should be a tightly contested game.

The game is loaded with big-name stars that make up two very productive offenses.

Heisman winning quarterback Cam Newton is one of the most popular players in college football today and leads the Tigers offense. He can pass with surprising accuracy and is a threat on the ground to run on any play. Newton was the SEC’s leading rusher with 1,409 yards and he threw for 28 touchdowns and 2,589 yards. The Tiger offense averaged 497 yards per game and they average 66 plays per game. The opposition for the BCS Championship has a pretty quick offense as well.

The Ducks have one of the most explosive offenses in the game. They execute at an extremely fast pace, averaging 79 plays per game, and wearing down opposing defenses. The offense is led by Heisman candidate and star running back LaMichael James. His playmaking ability has worked well with the high-temp offense that is on display for the championship game. The Ducks offense is the best in the nation in total offense and scoring offense.

With two great offenses meeting in this game it’s easy to overlook the defensive units, but ultimately that could make the difference in this game.

The Oregon defense has a very tough job because they are on the field for long periods of time due to the quick-strike offense. They rank 25th nationally in total yards allowed at 331.6 yards per contest and have a knack for getting turnovers. They have 35 turnovers on the season and that is good enough to rank third in all of college football.

The Ducks have allowed 18.4 points per game against their opponents this season and stiffen as the game goes on. They only let up 83 second-half points this year and held eight of the 12 teams they faced scoreless in the fourth quarter.

The Ducks defense is equally impressive in the red zone, as they rank fifth in the country in red-zone defense.

It's this type of dense that can lead to a big win for the Oregon Ducks in the title game.

Heading into the 2011 BCS Championship Game the offense will grab headlines, but when it’s over, the defense will make all the difference.

Matt Regaw is a B/R Featured Columnist and the founder of BookieBlitz.com, your one-stop shop for sports articles, previews and predictions. Feel free to contact Matt at [e-mail].